Chapter Eleven: Some Outside Help
"Well, well, if it isn't the British Misfit."
The man in overalls paused in his paintwork, sending Jetta a smile as he
did so and putting the brush in his hand safely back in it's paint pot. "Long
time no see, Jetta...what can I do for you?"
Jetta exchanged looks with Shana, then returned the man's smile. They had
tried to raise Clash at her apartment but had gotten no answer, so in despair
Jetta had decided it was as well to ask Steven, the odd jobs man about the
building whether he knew anything about her whereabouts. Now convinced Clash
was involved, she was determined to get to the bottom of it. She had been
to Clash's apartment only once or twice with the other Misfits, but Steven
remembered her from her dramatic features and her accent which, much to her
chagrin he had decided was 'cute'. Now, however, irritation had to be put
aside. Time was running out.
"I was lookin' for Cl...Constance." she said in her most genial tones. "She
ain't in - do you know when she'll be back?"
"Just the handyman, me." Steven shrugged. "But I'll tell you this I do know.
She's gone outta town to visit family or something, I think...I overheard
her talking to someone on the phone about it when I was fixing the shot wiring
of the apartment across the hall. Couldn't tell you when she'd be back."
"Outta town, huh?" Shana looked thoughtful. "Convenient."
"Indeed." Jetta nodded. "You don't 'ave any clue where she might 'ave headed?"
"Well, she has family in Malberry, don't she?" Steven asked. "She goes back
there each year for the Father's Day celebrations."
"It ain't father's day, or even close." Jetta pointed out dryly. "But I suppose
she could be in Malberry...guess we gotta check it out."
"Do you want to leave a message for her?" Steven asked. "I'll see it gets
to her when she comes back."
"No...in fact, best you don't mention we were here." Jetta thought fast.
"See, we...'ave a little surprise for 'er, and we wouldn't want it spoiled
now."
"You're the boss." Steven winked at her. "Nice seeing you, Jetta."
Jetta rolled her eyes to the skies, but maintained her geniality.
"Much obliged to you for your help." She said with an amiable smile. "Guess
Shana and I will go look someplace else. Bye!"
"You know, now I know why you have such a reputation for manipulation." Shana
murmured as they headed back out to the car. "If I hadn't known you were
feeding him lines I would never have guessed."
"I'm a quick thinker." Jetta shrugged. "But we're no closer to findin' Clash...what
now? Malberry?"
"Well, we could call her family." Shana looked doubtful. "But if you ask
me it would make more sense if we focused on her family here in LA, at least
to begin with."
"Family?" Now it was Jetta's turn to look blank. Then she smiled. "Oh! Video!"
"Right." Shana nodded.
"But Clash 'ates Video...and vice versa." Jetta pointed out. "What would
she know?"
"Maybe nothing, but she might know how Clash thinks better than we do." Shana
suggested.
"Well, it's worth a try." Jetta shrugged. "And we better call Clash's Pa,
also...see if he's 'eard from her. He's a dope, I can get him to tell me
anything he might know."
"Okay, so we have something to go on, at last." Shana grinned. "Finally, some
progress!"
"Maybe. If we find her." Jetta reminded her. "Still, it's a start an' that's
something. Come on. I say we drop by Starlight Mansion or wherever Stormer
and Kimber are today and tell them our theory, see what they think...then
we go tackle Video an' Mr Montgomery. We'll get her yet!"
"I hope so. Time is getting short." Shana looked troubled.
In their desire to track down who they now suspected as the culprit, the
girls had forgotten that they were meant to be rivals, and the bickering had
been replaced all too naturally by a strange kind of mutual respect. Events
were driving them to work as a team, but they were also beginning to function
as a team, though neither girl had yet realised it.
Across town, oblivious to Jetta's sudden flash of inspiration, Clash was
carefully checking that everything was going according to plan. It had all
been so easy, she mused, to take them off guard and establish a new mode
of command over proceedings. Zipper had been a pain but he had done his job
and so long as she kept him solvent he was fairly obedient. Jerrica and Pizzazz
were well out of the way, in the back bedroom of the rundown apartment she
had hired solely for the purpose, and time was running out before the big
night.
A slow smile crossed her face.
"They'll never live it down." she mused with a chuckle. "And even when I
set them free, I've covered my back. Jerrica knows that one wrong word will
bring Jem's real identity out of the closet, and Pizzazz's pride will never
allow herself to publically admit that she was out-thought and out-manouevred
by little old me. I'll take my perfect vengeance, teach them all a lesson...and
then..." she paused, a frown crossing her face.
Then what?
Her plans had not stretched any further ahead than the ultimate humiliation
of the two bands she had set her sights on - but what about after the whole
affair was at an end? What then?
"I'll think of that when it comes to it." She shrugged, pushing the idea
to the back of her mind. "Something to directly get at Video, perhaps. This
will be a blow to her, because I know she's due to film Jem's performance
at the Rock Festival for some television show or the other, but it's not specifically
brutal enough to wreck her career. Perhaps that'll be my next line of thought,
when all of this is over. For now, it doesn't matter. For now I'm just going
to bask in my victory...they'll never work it all out, not in a million years,
and even if they do, by that time it'll be too late...I'll have won." She
chuckled. "That's a nice feeling, coming out on top. Maybe I don't need to
be a Misfit, when it comes down to it. They can't function without each other,
can't cope. Me, I can manage a scheme all by myself, and I don't need anyone
at all...perhaps I'm too good for the Misfits after all!"
But Clash had overlooked something important when glossing over the Misfits
and their reliance on each other. The strange bond of loyalty that had grown
between them meant more now than simply fighting for themselves - it meant
that they would defend each other against outside interference. It had happened
before, that they had banded together to come to the aid of one of their
kind, and if she had stopped to think about it she would have realised that
it would happen again. Similarly, the Holograms were hardly likely to sit
back and let her dictate rules, not when someone so important to them was
missing.
She had failed to pay attention to the actions of either group, failed to
notice them banding together and failed to realise what this kind of teamwork
meant.
Individually they were formidable as rivals...but on the same side they were
close to unstoppable.
And they had their sights set firmly on Clash...
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Shana!" Video opened the door of her apartment, a look of confusion on
her face as she registered who was with her friend. "Jetta? What...what's
all this about?"
"We need to talk to you for a while, Video." Shana said. "Can we come in?
It's kinda important."
"Sure...I suppose so." Video shot Jetta another odd glance, but opened up
her door to allow them in. "I'd better warn you, though, that if this is
something top secret I'm not here alone. I've a comittee meeting of sorts
going on here for the Rock Festival in a couple of days, and..."
"That's kind of what this is about." Shana interrupted. "There isn't going
to be any Rock Festival, at least not for the Holograms or the Misfits, not
as things stand."
"What's happened?" Video's eyes widened.
"Jerrica an' Pizzazz 'ave gone AWOL and we're pretty damn sure we know who's
behind it." Jetta spoke now as they entered the living room. "Which is why
we came to you."
"They've been kidnapped?" Video demanded. Shana nodded.
"Yes. We've had...notes about Jerrica, anyway, and Pizzazz went out one night
and just vanished off the face of the earth. We're pretty sure that the two
disappearances are connected."
"Who's disappeared?"
A fresh voice entered the conversation at that moment, for the lounge, as
Video had said, was not empty. Anthony Julian, Shana's long term boyfriend,
and a young up-and-coming video artist, Suzanne Mayor were seated, drinking
coffee and it had been Suzanne, or 'Chimera' who had spoken. "What's the scoop?"
"Chimera!" Jetta exclaimed. "I didn't expect to see you here."
"It's business." Chimera shrugged, moving up on the couch to make room for
the British girl. "So what's the deal, then? And why are you here with Shana?"
"What's wrong, honey?" Anthony sent Shana a concerned look. Shana sank down
into a chair with a sigh.
"It's all gotten messy." she said, slowly outlining all that had happened.
"We came here to speak to Video really, but I suppose you ought to know about
it too. What the Holograms are going to do without...um...Jerrica's help
I don't know. We all agreed that no Jerrica, no performance, and the Misfits
have a similar dilemma...they've lost Pizzazz."
"I can think of worse tragedies." Chimera looked amused. Young and impulsive,
she and the Misfits had often worked together on music videos over the past
few months, and necessity for both parties had forced her and Pizzazz to
work amicably together, but it was not a situation either relished. Though
Chimera was fairly amiable with Jetta, and had no axe to grind with Roxy
or Stormer, she had never really clicked with Pizzazz, who had developed
an immediate resentment of the young artist as soon as they had met, a resentment
which had only grown when the truth of Chimera's identity had come out.
"Well, we kinda need her to sing." Jetta responded, taking a seat herself.
"And like Shana said, time is running out for both groups. This festival is
a big deal and if neither group show it could cost us both dear career-wise.
Bad publicity, an' all that. So, for the time bein' at least, weird as it
seems...we've a truce."
"You said you had an idea who was behind it." Video remarked, closing the
door and coming to join the group. "I'm intrigued...what can I...or any of
us do to help?"
"Jetta's pretty sure it's Clash." Shana admitted uncomfortably. Video gaped.
"Constance?" She demanded. "Are you sure? I know she's reckless and
impetuous and spoiled...but...kidnapping? Shana, are you sure? She's
hardly more than a kid, and she's never behaved her age...I don't believe
she could dream up something like this!"
"I do." Jetta put in grimly. "I've never liked that girl...but more I think
about it, more it seems to me that it 'as to be her. Pizzazz was kinda cruel
to 'er about the whole Last Laugh business, and we've 'ardly seen her in
months...then suddenly both the 'Olograms and the Misfits are treated to
impersonations...Oh, I don't think there's any doubt that it's Clash behind
it. Who else do you know who's so good at disguising herself?"
"I suppose...you have a point." Video sighed. "Oh, brother...if it is her...she's
gonna wind up in so much trouble...what on earth possessed her?"
"If it is her, she needs help." Anthony put in. Shana nodded.
"That's what I said." she agreed. "But...well, if she really has dared to
cross Pizzazz like that, I...wouldn't like to be her when Pizzazz gets the
upper hand."
"She 'as a memory like an elephant, never forgets a grievance." Jetta nodded.
"And this one I wouldn't blame 'er on. I'd like to get me 'ands on Clash
meself, teach 'er a thing or two about messin' with the Misfits."
"Seems to me like Clash has nothing to gain by coming into the open." Chimera
mused. "If all that's going to do is incur the wrath of my sister, not to
mention the rest of the Misfits and the Holograms...I can see she'd want
to lie low someplace, hide out somewhere new where she's not so easily traced.
If you ask me, you're gonna have a job finding her."
"Your sister?" Video shot Chimera a confused look. Chimera laughed.
"Yeah. Didn't you know? Pizzazz is my half-sister."
"I had no idea." Video admitted. "You don't seem a bit alike."
"There's no blood tie. We hate each other." Chimera shrugged. "I don't mind
working with the Misfits, actually I quite enjoy it most of the time, but
sometimes I could happily strangle Pizzazz."
"I think we all feel that way sometimes." Shana said dryly. "But right now
we gotta get her out of wherever she is...that's more important."
"Shana's right." Jetta nodded. "And then things can get back to normal." she
glanced around her. "I feel odd as heck, sittin' in your flat like this,
Video...we've always been on opposin' sides."
"We have, but if Clash is involved then you were right to tell me." Video
replied. She looked troubled. "Oh, Constance, what have you done?"
"So what can we do to help out?" Anthony asked. Shana shrugged.
"I wish I knew." she said with a sigh. "It's all such a mess, Anthony...and
we've so little time."
"Have you spoken to her father?" Video asked. Jetta shook her head.
"No. That was next on the list after we left 'ere. We wanted to know if you'd
seen or 'eard anything of Clash in the last few days - she ain't at 'ome,
conveniently."
"We don't talk most of the time...that's as good as our relationship gets."
Video glanced at her hands. "I've no idea. But talk to Uncle Buzz. He's more
likely to know if anyone in the family is. He and Clash are close."
"If they're close, won't he protect her?" Chimera asked. Video shrugged.
"Probably, but in all honesty he doesn't have as much perception as he should
and he can probably be coerced into telling. My worry is more what's going
to come out of all this."
"It feels surreal enough as it is." Jetta said solemnly, casting Shana a
glance, then frowning. "The more time I spend with Shana, the less defined
this whole rivalry thing gets in my 'ead. I'm gettin' confused as to why we
'ate the Holograms so much...guess it's somethin' I absorbed when I joined
the Misfits and I jus' didn't question it."
"Pizzazz resents Jem." Shana said succinctly. "And she's never liked coming
up second."
"But we ain't second best these days, duckie." Jetta responded. "In the United
States you girls might 'ave the upper 'and, and all that, but across the
atlantic we outsell you, especially in England, cos that's me 'ome turf and
they identify with that. You're all a bunch of foreigners to them over there...yet
another foreign group tryin' to make a name abroad. I'm born an' bred British...makes
the difference. And the Misfits were a band before the 'Olograms even came
into view...f you ask me it wasn't the Misfits who were jumpin' onto someone
else's publicity train!"
"So the Misfits' success in England is entirely down to you?" Shana raised
an eyebrow.
"Course not." Jetta winked, looking amused. "We 'ave better music, is all."
"Are you girls going to have an all out debate here and now or are you going
to let us try and help you find Pizzazz?" Chimera interrupted at that moment.
"You want to help?" Jetta looked surprised. Chimera pulled a graphic face.
"She's my sister. I guess I gotta." she said with a sigh.
"Well, far as I'm concerned we can't have enough people on the hunt." Shana
shrugged. "So by all means, help. Not that we've done much good so far. We
need a lead..."
"And maybe Clash's Pa is the one to give it to us." Jetta stood. "C'mon, Shana.
We ain't got time to be sociable...we got a phone call to make!"
Chapter One:
Clash
Chapter Two: Deception
Chapter Three:
On Tour With The Holograms
Chapter Four: The
Next Stage
Chapter Five: Jem?
Chapter Six: Trapped!
Chapter Seven:
An Unlikely Team
Chapter Eight:
Laying Plans
Chapter Nine: Letter
From The Desert
Chapter Ten: Jetta's
Hunch
Chapter Eleven:
Some Outside Help
Chapter Twelve:
Kimber's Dilemma
Chapter Thirteen:
The Great Escape
Chapter Fourteen:
Fire!
Chapter Fifteen:
Repercussions and Rock and Roll
Chapter Sixteen:
The End Of An Era
(The Misfits and Holograms and other animated Jem characters are copyrighted to Hasbro Inc. All characters who do not appear in Jem episodes are my own creation. This story is copyrighted to E.A Woolley (2001)